Rooftop Bee Removal in Las Vegas: A Successful Hive Relocation
At Vegas Bees, we take pride in handling every bee removal with care, no matter how challenging the situation. Recently, we received a call from Bob, who had a bee's nest tucked away in the second-story roofline of his home near Boulder City, NV.
With the unpredictable weather of the Las Vegas Valley, we had to ensure the safety of both Bob’s property and the bees.
The Challenge: Rooftop Bee Removal & Delicate Setup
We arrived on a chilly Saturday morning, but the Las Vegas sun had warmed the roof, keeping the bees active. This was a relief, as it ensured they would remain calm throughout the process. However, the first challenge arose quickly: reaching the bees without damaging Bob’s property.
To get access to the roof, we had to set up the ladder on a metal awning. Unfortunately, it was made of lightweight aluminum, making it too fragile to support our weight or the ladder.
Problem Solving on the Spot: Building a Custom Support Platform
Thinking on our feet, Dave quickly devised a plan. We constructed a wooden platform to place over the aluminum awning, ensuring a stable and secure setup.
After a quick trip to Home Depot for lumber, we built and installed the platform, making it possible to safely reach the roofline.
Getting to the Hive: Removing Roof Tiles and Exposing the Beehive
Once the ladder was secure, it was time to get to work. We removed the clay roof tiles, flashing, and tar paper, cutting a 3 ft x 4 ft section of the roof to access the bees.
As soon as the area was opened, we were greeted by a giant beehive filled with honey, brood, and thousands of honeybees.
Harvesting the Honeycomb: Securing the Bees Safely
We carefully trimmed the honey-laden combs, adding them to our wooden frames and securing them with rubber bands. The combs filled eight full frames, which we placed in our Langstroth hive box.
The remaining two frames contained drawn comb to help the bees settle into their new home.
Queen Bee Capture: A Key to the Bee Removal Success
While working, we spotted the queen bee quickly. She was busy on one of the brood combs, but with precision, we captured her in a queen clip. This was the turning point of the job – with the queen safely in the hive box, the rest of the colony would soon follow.
Bee Relocation: The Hive Moves to Henderson Apiary
Once the queen bee was placed in the hive box, the worker bees followed suit, flying down from the roofline to join her in their new home. We then cleaned the area, bee-proofing the roof with hardware cloth and caulk to prevent future infestations.
Wrapping Up: Roof Repairs and Hive Relocation Complete
With the bees safely relocated, it was time to restore the roof. As the sun began to set, we worked quickly to replace the tar paper, reinstall the flashing, and carefully lay the clay roof tiles.
The entire process took just over 8 hours, but it was well worth the effort to save the bees and restore Bob’s roof.
Vegas Bees: Humane Bee Removal Experts in Las Vegas
This rooftop bee removal was a great success, thanks to our commitment to solving problems on the spot and our expertise in live bee removal. The bees are now thriving at our Henderson apiary, where they’ll continue their honeybee lives.
If you’re facing a bee infestation, whether in your roofline or elsewhere, you can count on us for safe, humane, and professional bee removal.
Betsy and Pete
Las Vegas, Nevada
About Us: The Authors
We're Betsy and Pete, passionate Las Vegas beekeepers trained by a master in the field. With hundreds of successful bee and bee swarm removals under our belts, we're not just experts; we're enthusiasts committed to the well-being of these incredible pollinators.
We manage dozens of beehives, both natural and honey-bearing at our Joshua Tree Preserve.
Our Commitment to Excellence
Education is an ongoing journey, especially in a dynamic field such as beekeeping. That's why we continually update our knowledge base, collaborate with other experts, and stay up to date with the latest advancements in bee control methods and beekeeping practices.
We also provide top-tier beekeeping supplies, offering everything a beekeeper needs, from beginners to experts.
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